ShowEast to honor Lionsgate's Mike Polydoros

Mike Polydoros, executive VP of distribution operations at Lionsgate, will receive the 2013 Al Shapiro Distinguished Service Award at ShowEast, which is scheduled for Oct. 21-24. The presentation at the Final Night Awards Ceremony will be hosted by The Coca-Cola Company at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Fla.

Each year, the Al Shapiro Distinguished Service Award honors a film industry executive who best represents the ideals and standards set by the late Al Shapiro during his distinguished career. It epitomizes his dedication, care and concern for the betterment of the motion picture industry.

“I can’t think of a more deserving individual in our industry to receive this award than Mike,” noted ShowEast Co-managing director Andrew Sunshine. “Mike is a strong leader within his company and his enthusiasm for the film industry has a powerful impact on everything he accomplishes.”

Polydoros began his career in 1978 working as an usher at the famed Egyptian Theatre, and knew even then that he wanted to work on the business side of the entertainment industry. Now, with over 30 years of distribution and exhibition experience, he oversees Lionsgate’s digital cinema and exhibitor relations. Since joining Lionsgate as part of the merger with Artisan in 2003, he has played a key role in the release of more than 150 films including The Hunger Games, the Twilight and Saw franchises and the Academy Award-winning Crash, as well as this fall’s Ender’s Game and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Polydoros is a member of the advisory board of the Will Rogers charities. He also supports Variety the Children’s Charity and various other charity fund-raising events.

ShowEast, a leading industry trade convention now in its 28th year, features screenings of major upcoming holiday films, sponsored events, informative seminars and a trade show. An estimated 1,300 members of the motion picture industry are expected to attend.